Mattress



Oct. 4, 1932. R B, DAV|5 1,880,860 4 MATFTRE s s Fil ed Nov. 11, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l R. B. DAVIS MATTRESS Get. 4, 1932.

Filed Nov. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet gowem w'b I I moi/nu e.

Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES RALPH BERNARD DAVIS, OF OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA MA'rranss Application filed November 11, 1931. Serial No. 574,405.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a mattress, adapted to be placed in a ooflin, and one object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the mattress may be adjusted to raise the head and shoulders of the corpse, to raise the hips of the corpse, to raise the entire corpse, and to tilt the corpse from side to side, as occasion may require, so that a lifelike appearance, or any desired position, may

be attained and held,and to provide a device of the class described which, for the most part, will be concealed within the mattress. A further object of the invention is to incumber the mattress with the smallest possible amount of metal work. I

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings 1- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a casket mattress having the device forming the subject matter of this application embodied therein, the device being so adjusted that the mattress will stand in horizontal position;

Figure 2 is a side view wherein the mattress has been tilted from end to end;

Figure 3 is a cross section of a coffin with the mattress therein, the mattress having been adjusted so that one side is higher than the other; 7

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the mattress supports; 7

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section at right angles to Figure 5;

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the edge of the mattress and through the frame contained therein.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the frame.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a franiel, made of metal, and shown in outline in Figure 7 the frame being U-shaped in top plan, andbeinghollow or tubular. The frame 1 comprises side arms 2, and an end piece 3 connecting the arms. Openings 4 are formed in the side arms 2, near to the ends thereof, and an opening 5 is formed in the end'piece 3, at a point about midway between the ends of the said piece. As shown in Figure 1, the frame 1 is not as long as the mattress 6, the frame, preferably, being a'little more than half as long as the mattress. The stuffing of the mattress is marked by the numeral 7 and is enclosed within a flexible cover 8, the sides and the bottom of the covering being stitched together at' 9, in Figure 6, to form, adjacent to the bottom of the mattress, a tubular marginal bead 10 in which the frame 1 is enclosed and held. The head 10 of course has openings 11 which register with the openings 4 of the frame, and the bead, at the head of the mattress, has an opening 12 which registers with the opening 5 of the frame. With this observation, the openings 11 and 12 in the head will be dismissed fromfurther consideration. I

A plurality oflsupports 14 are provided. Each support 14 comprises a rigid tubular standard 15, the standards 15 being vertical ly adjustable in the openings 4 and 5 of the frame 1. By means of a ball and socket joint 16, each standard 15 is pivotally connected with a foot 17 which may or may 5 not be fastened at 18 to the bottom of the coffinlQ. v a a r Each of the standards 15 has a longitudinal'slot 24, through which projects a latch bar 20, located Within the standard 15. The latch bar 20 has teeth 21 on its outer edge, which are so constructed, asshown in Figure 4, as to enable the frame 1 to be raised, the teeth preventing the downward movement of the frame, unless the latch bar 20 is pushed inwardly against the action of springs 23 located within the standard 15. The springs 23 either may be secured at their ends to the standard, or they may be secured in their intermediate portions to the rear edge of the latch bar 20, the showing of Figure 4 illustrating either ofthe constructions mentioned. The openings 4 which receive the standards and the latch bars 20, are

of such size that when the latch bars are advanced sidewise, by the springs 23, the parts 2 and 3 of the frame 1 cannot be accidentally detached from the teeth 21 of the latch bars, it being possible to detach the teeth of the latch bars from the frame only by shoving the latch bars inwardly, that is,'tothe left in Figure 4. The lower ends of the latch bars are pivotally mounted at 22 on the lower i 2 portions of the standards. 15.

It will be obvious that the mattress can be placed on an incline, throughout its entire length, as shown in Figure 2. Moreover, the-mattress may be disposed in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 1.- Figure 3 shows that the mattress may be adjusted to give it a lateral tilt: and, in general, the

mattress may be so adjusted that the corpse may lie in any desired position.

The frame 1 does not extend the full length of the mattress, the mattress being lightened accordingly, and material beingsaved. The frame 1 is completely hidden within thehead 10, the upper ends of the supports 14: being the only parts that are exposed above the bead 10, 7

Although the device has been shown and described as being used in connection with a casket, it will be understood that the invention can be employed for other purposes, such as in connection with hospitalbeds, and for many other uses which will suggest themselves readily to a person skilled in the art Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A device for use in adjusting the position of a mattress, comprising a U-shaped frame having side arms and an. end piece connect ing the side arms, the side arms having openings near to their ends, and the end piece having an opening located intermediate the arms, supports vertically adjustable in the openings, latch bars'pivoted to the supports, spring means formoving the latch bars outwardly to cause them to engage the end piece and the side arms, within the openings, feet, and ball and socket joints connecting the lower ends of the supports with the feet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

RALPH. BERNARD DAVIS. 

